"Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya...": Kamran Akmal blasts BCCI, demands India's visit to Pakistan

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to keep the politics and sports separate and allow the Indian team to travel to Pakistan for next year's Champions Trophy.

The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in February-March next year. While all the participating countries have confirmed their participation, Team India is yet to confirm its travel to the country.

India and Pakistan have strained political relations for some years now. The BCCI has clearly said that it will require the permission of the Indian government to allow its cricket team to travel to Pakistan. As of now, the chances of India traveling to Pakistan are very low.

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Kamran Akmal asks BCCI to keep politics and sports separate

During an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, Kamran Akmal voted in favor of keeping sports and politics aside and allowing both nations to play in each other's countries. Akmal further argued that why can't India travel to Pakistan if Australia can.

"I consider myself lucky that I traveled to India and played several series, both home and away. I really enjoyed those times. India should travel to Pakistan, and Pakistan should go to India. Let's keep the political matters aside and play and love cricket," Kamran Akmal said during the interview.

"When a team like Australia can visit Pakistan, why not India? The India-Pakistan bilateral series should happen. Both governments need to sit and talk. This will benefit cricket," he added.

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan happened in 2013 when Pakistan traveled to India for a T20I and an ODI series. Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1 while the T20I series ended in a 1-1 draw.

"Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa" - Kamran Akmal on India's refusal to travel to Pakistan

Kamran Akmal further mentioned that Pakistan have done a lot of work in bringing cricket back to their country. He further argued that the Pakistan government would never deny its team permission to travel to India.

"Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab Champions Trophy ki baatein kar rahe hain. Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? (first you took away the Asia Cup from Pakistan, now taliing about Champions Trophy, why?)...Pakistan has done a lot of hard work to bring cricket back to the country," Akmal said.

"If India invites Pakistan, our government will never stop us. They will say, 'Go and play.' The Indian government should do the same. Let's keep politics aside and play cricket," he added.

India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup in which the Men in Blue finished as the runners-up.

The Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 further put a dent in the political relations between the two nations as the attacks had links to Pakistan.

While India hasn't traveled to Pakistan in 16 years, Pakistan have been frequently travelling to India for ICC tournaments. Recently, the Men in Green arrived in India for the ODI World Cup 2023.